Grand Laugavegur Trek - 8 Day Tour

Trek 38 - Eight Day Tour to Landmannalaugar together with Laugavegur & Fimmvorduhals. This Top 20 Best World's hikes will allow you to see first-hand the raw power of Mother Nature at Work. Wild places, challenging hikes and volcanoes stirring your imagination.

Best of the Laugavegur

Landmannalaugar, Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls

Grand Laugavegur

Experience the highlights of the Highlands first-hand, starting with Landmannalaugar, a geothermal paradise of multicolored mountains, hot springs and fields of lava. Continue on the Laugavegur trail, which was chosen one of the "20 Best Hikes in the World" together with the Fimmvörðuháls trail by National Geographic. The trail is known for its contrasts and diversity in landscapes, all the way to Þórsmörk Valley. We end our journey with a hike up to Fimmvörðuháls Volcano and end the day with a delicious and well-deserved barbeque in the beautiful surroundings of Þórsmörk, celebrating our achievements of the past days.

About the tour

Now you have a chance to experience exceptional landscapes of the extended Laugavegur trail and geographical phenomena, to discover the land of extreme contrasts. You will be impressed by the unearthly beauty of Landmannalaugar, Laugavegur and Fimmvorduhals hiking trails and its natural surroundings.

Start in Landmannalaugar, one of Iceland's great wonders and most geologically active areas, with the active volcano Hekla in its neighborhood. Hike towards the ill-named crater lake of Ljoti Pollur (Ugly Puddle), to Iceland's most colorful volcano - Brennisteinsalda or Sudurnamur, rhyolite mountain with its superb view of the whole Landmannalaugar area. Enjoy swimming in a natural hot pool, where both hot and cold water flows out from beneath Laugahraun (Lagoon Lava) mixing to form an ideal hot bath.

Embark on the adventure of the Laugavegur and Fimmvorduhals Trek, a truly great trail winding into the essence of a place of a harsh and otherworldly splendor. Rambling lava fields, obsidian lands, caramel-colored mountains, black sands and sparkling white glaciers. Culminate your trip in the fertile and historic paradise of Thorsmork hiking to Fimmvorduhals Pass- the high spit of land between Eyjafjallajokull glacier and the larger Myrdalsjokull ice cap- and to the new twin craters, formed in the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010, Magni and Modi. The valley Thorsmork is named after the Norse thunder god Thor who is believed to have struck down his hammer and formed the valley. The craters Magni and Modi were then named after Thor’s sons. The place itself is in one word magical!

*Note that it can take up to 30 minutes before the bus departs the given locations.

Day 1: FROSTASTADAVATN, LJOTIPOLLUR

The tour starts by the Reykjavík tourist info at Reykjavik's City Hall (Ráðhúsið) by Tjörnin pond at 7.00 a.m. It's located in downtown Reykjavik and within walking distance from most hotels, hostels and guesthouses in central Reykjavik. We also offer pick up at your Reykjavik accommodation for a small fee. After introductions, we board the scheduled bus that takes us to Landmannalaugar. From Reykjavik, we drive inland through the beautiful Thjorsardalur valley, named after the river Thjorsa and the longest river in Iceland, towards Hekla Volcano. Passing extensive lava fields from previous eruptions we approach the Landmannalaugar area with its amazing peaks. After our lunch, we will set on a 10 km hike to ill-named Ljótipollur (Ugly Puddle) Lake, one of 42 of the World’s Most Beautiful Crater Lakes. An incredible red crater filled with bright -blue water and real eye-candy. In the evening, you can enjoy a relaxing bath at the natural steaming hot spring pool. We stay both nights in a comfortable and cozy hut in Landmannalaugar.

( L, r, D) Driving: 4 hours Hiking Distance 10-12 km (6-7,50 mi)

Day 2: BRENNISTEINSALDA, VONDUGIL AND SUÐURNAMUR RHYOLITE MOUNTAIN

Today we will hike till Sudurnamur, a 200 000 years old mountain rich in rhyolite mineral. On the way up to the Sudurnamur you will enjoy numbers of ravines and colorful sights of the area and from its top, a dramatic landscape of the Landmannalaugar empire can be seen; Mt. Kirkjufell, Laugahraun lava, Blahnukur volcano or Brennisteinsalda, the most colorful mountain in Iceland. We spend another night in the beautiful Landmannalaugar.

(B, L, r, D) Driving: 0 hours Hiking Distance 11 km (6,84 mi)

Day 3: LAUGAVEGUR, FROM LANDMANNALAUGAR TO HRAFNTINNUSKER

This day until 12:00 afternoon we will enjoy a free time and get ready for the next part of our Laugavegur Trek, a good time to bathe in the hot springs and get yourself ready for the next days. After lunch, we join a new guide and some new participants. Next our hike starts passing through rambling Laugahraun lava field. Passing by the Brennisteinsalda multicolor mountain and through the geothermal wonderland. On our way, we will admire caramel-colored peaks, colorful mountains and steaming hot springs. We walk by the beautiful hot spring Storihver before crossing into the obsidian desert by Hrafntinnusker. We spend the night in the hut in Hrafntinnusker, one of the most remote huts in Iceland.

After breakfast in the hut, we head out again and walk along the Reykjafjoll mountains and then descend into the Jokultungur area. The geothermal activity has turned these gullies yellow and red. From the top of Jokultungur, is a great view over the Fjallabak area and lake Alftavatn which is our next overnight stop. Before reaching Alftavatn we cross an unbridged stream on foot. We spend the night in the hut by the lake.

We start the day with another refreshing stream crossing as we make our way past the green volcano Storasula and into the black desert of Maelifellssandur. On our way, we will see Hattafell, a volcano with a strange flat top. We walk through this black glacial desert and into Emstrur where there is a chance to enjoy the view on Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers. Just before reaching the hut in Botnar we turn of the path to look at Markarfljotsgljufur, almost 200m deep canyon carved out by the glacial river Markarfljot. The hut in Botnar is in a little green oasis, a welcome sight after walking through the black sands.

We put Emstrur behind us and continue on our way to Thorsmork. The trail takes us within a few kilometers from the great Myrdalsjokull glacier. As we descend towards Almenningar a few trees can be seen, a sign we are getting closer to the coast. We walk under the characteristic mountain Einhyrningur and into the dense birch forest in Thorsmork. Thorsmork is a green valley nesting under the glaciers Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull, a magnificent place to spend the night.

Today we leave Thorsmork early in the morning and head for the mountain pass between the two glaciers, Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull. We will walk up to the two new volcanos formed in 2010, Magni and Modi, the sons of Thor. On the way, we pass by a "waterfall" of lava formed in the eruption. Here you have a chance to see how Iceland is still being constructed. We spend the night in Thorsmork and have a traditional Icelandic Lambalæri (Icelandic Lamb).

In the morning we have a leisurely breakfast in the hut before going out to explore the surroundings. The volcanos Katla and Eyjafjallajokull surround the Thorsmork valley, for thousands of years these volcanoes and the glaciers that cover them have carved the sandstone in Thorsmork into surreal sculptures dotted with moss and Arctic birch trees. We hike up the mountain Valahnukur for a fantastic view over the valley. Those who wish can also simply spend the day relaxing and enjoying nature in this beautiful place. We return to Reykjavik in the early evening at around 18:30 and offer drop off at Miklabraut 101 Orkan gas station (by Kringlan shopping mall), Reykjavik Campsite and the City Hall on Vonarstræti. From there taxis and local buses are available.

(B, L) Driving: 4 hours Walking time: 4-5 hrs

The entries in bold at the end of each day indicate the meals included (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, r=refreshment, D= Dinner).

We also offer drop off at Hveragerði N1 gas station, Selfoss N1 gas station and Hella bus terminal on the way back to Reykjavik. Please inform the guide on the tour if you wish to get off at one of these places.

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Welcome to Trek Iceland

Trek Iceland is a fully licensed tour operator based in Reykjavik, Iceland. We specialize in trekking and hiking tours in the remote highlands as well as various places around Iceland. We have a great selection of tours at all levels of ability and duration including short and long hiking day tours, multi day trekking tours, Laugavegur tours and Landmannalaugar tours.

Our team of experienced guides ensure you enjoy your journey to the fullest and keep you safe while exploring the incredible hiking and trekking trails in Iceland.

TREK Iceland is a part of the Arctic Adventures family. Together we can provide you with great variety when it comes to adventures and exploration in Iceland. Our tours range from glaciers to snorkeling and almost anything in between. Feel free to contact us if there is any information you are lacking, we are always more than happy to help!